Introduction

Contemporary New Orleans

New Orleans music continues to flourish in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In fact, research by Tulane professors Nick Spitzer and Matt Sakakeeny argue that it was culture – and above all, music – that paved the return for many. This is both because the return of local culture gave many New Orleanians a sense of “home,” and because culture is the basis of the tourism industry, which in turn provides the infrastructure for the local economy. The readings below show how the return of second line parades (Breunlin & Regis), brass bands (Sakakeeny) and a host of other musical styles (Spitzer) give us a sense of the contemporary New Orleans landscape.